Shield for automobile headlights



G. F. TAFT A SHIELD FOR AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHTS Filed Jan. 31. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TAF-r SHIELD FOR AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHTS Filed Jan.

u ULS 2 sheets-shewv Patented @ch 2, i223.

iatale narran stare erer .rica- GEORGE F. TAE'T, OF- BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHIELD FOR AUTO/BILE 'HEADLG-HTS."

Application led January 31, 1921. Serial No. 441,118l

0 @ZZ whom @t may concern. Be it known that l, Gnoncn F. TAFT, a

citizen of the United States, residingv at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shields for Auto-V the roadway directly in front of the vehicleV and other of said rays being reflected laterH ally toward the right and left, all of said rays of light being so reflected. that no direct glare from the source 0f illumination will be directed into the eyes of operators of approaching automobiles.

rlhe invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a headlight having ai shield embodying my invention attached thereto.

Fig. `2 is a front elevation of the shield. Fig. 3 isa side elevation of the shield. Fig. l is a top plan view of the shield.

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section through a headlight, a shield representing a modified embodiment of my invention being at-` tached thereto.

Fig, 6 is a front elevation of the shield illustrated in Fig. l5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the shield as viewed from 'the right of Fig. 6.

Fig,Y 8 is a horizontal sect-ion taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Lilrenumerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

ln the drawings, referring' particularly to Figures 1 toe inclusive, 10 represents a headlight of any desired construction in which 11 is the source of illumination, preferably an electric light bulb, 12a parabolic reflecting surface and 13 the lens which is held, in position upon the headlight by a hand le of 'the usual well lrrewn construe tion. --Alsofast to the front of the headvlight bythe bandlllis a shield 15, pref eijably constructed V of sheet metal, said shield being held against the frontV surface of: said lens by said-band. The shieldL 15 comprises a circular'rim 16 to vwhich a visor f 17 is attached, said visor in vertical plane Vbeing disposed at an angle to said rim 16 and lens-13 and in ahorizontal plane curvlng outwardly. from said rim, vrlhe visor 17 has afreflecting surface 18 upon the rear side thereof against which rays light from the electric lightbulb 11 and 'the parabolic reflecting surface '12 may strike and be re flected downwardly at y:different angles to illuminate the roadway directly infront of the vehicle upon which-the headlight may be mounted. The visor` 17 has alower edge 19 seV locatedthat theA parallel horizontal rays of light from the parabolicreflecting surface 12 may pass therebeneath to pro-v vide sufficient illumination in advance` of the vehicleland at a given vdista-nce above the ground to meet the various traffic' 're quirements and regulations. f

lThe visor 17 has-'a pair of openings 2O provided therein and projecting outwardly i from the outer surface of said visor adjacent to a portion of the edge of eachof saidopenings are vanes- 21. provided with a reliecting surface 22 upon their rear sides against which raysof light from the electric light bulb 11 and the parabolic reflecting surface .12vpassing through theopenings 20 may strike and be reflected the roadway to a limited extent upon each side of the vehicle.v A i ln its operation the visor 17 of the lshield will allow a certain volume'of parallel rays of light from theparabolic reflecting surface 12 to be projected forwardly in advance ofthe vehicle, while. theA rays of light striking the reflecting surface 18 of said visor will all bei Yreflected downwardly" The vanes 21- are laterally at differentv angles `to illumina-te 27 is located approximately lat the horizonio f tal'center line'of the rim 26 and said main portion projects downwardly and Vforwardly, the lower edge Y29 thereofv being so loc-atedthat parallel horizontal raysy of light 'from the parabolic"reflecting surface l2 may pas'stherebeneath to provide suffi-V cient illumination in advanceV of the ,vehicle and at a given distance above the ground to Vrieet the various trai'ii-c requirements and regulations. rlhe main portion of the visor 27 hasa reflecting surface upon the un der side thereof `against which/rays ott light from the electric light-` Ybulb ll and the para- Y:so

Yrim 16. f` f bolic reflecting surface l2 may strike and be reflected downwardly at dii'lerent' an gies to illuminate theA roadway;directly in front of the vehicle upon which the headlight may be mounted, j f j Extending upwardly from Vthe main portion of the visor 27. adjacent to the rim 26 are flanges 3l which project forwardly and inwardly ay short Ydistance from said rim and in effect form a partof 'theY visor 279V said/flanges being fastened'to the rim 26 at practically thesame angle as the Vportion of the visor 17 which is adjacent to the A pair of varies 82 are mounted upon the main portion of the visor -27 projecting upwardly ktherefrom and being` 'attached'at their upper ends to the rim 26. 'Adjacent inner edges 33 of' the vanes32 meet in avertica'lly disposed straight line at point 'adf jacent to the lens 13. The varies 32 extend forwardly and outwardly 'from where theirY edges 33 unite andthe outer edges e'f'the're of overlap the redges 85 ofthe flanges rllhe vanes 32 are provided upon theirr'ear sides with a reflectingn surface 36 against which raysof light from the electric light bulb l1 and the paraholic'reilecting surface 12 may strike and be reflected laterally at dill'ere'nt angles to illuminate the roadway upon each side oi' the vehicle. Openings' '-37 between the edg'es of the flanges 31 and the vanes 36 inV effect correspond to the' openings 20 in the visor l? previously described' and perform the saine functions. A; shield constructed .as illustratedA in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive' will reflect ravs of light inV a similarnianner to the shield illustrated in Figures l to il inclusive', although the vanes 32,l if constructed in the proportions illusbeen installed upon vehicles. lt is evident7 however7 that if it is so desired, shields may be moulded vformed inte i with the lens, thevisor and vanos heingco'nstructed suliiciently'thiclr to Y provide the' strength required. luthe event oi the shieldbeing so constructed of glass, the outer surfaces of the vi'so'rs`V and vanes coated with any suitalfilev substance 'to irovi'de the required reflecting surfaces therebehind. lt is evident Vthat this 'lor'm of shield'yfalls within the scope pended claims.

lf claim:Y l". A shield ofthe apfor headlights embodying therein a rim, a viso-rV attachedto s'ai'dl rim and adapted tov be located in front of the lens of' said headlight to limitthe height and volume of the rays of light projected'V for wardlyby said headlight, said visor having a. surface adapted tov reflect rays' of light downwardly and also being provided' with` openings extending therethrough and a pair of vanes located adjacent' to'the edges of said openines and projecting forwardly and outwardly rrom said visor'and'having survfaces adapted to project the rays of light which pass through 'said openings laterally from said Yheadlight in both an upward 'and downward direction. Q Y Y 2.Y A shieldfoi'- -lieadlights embodying therein a vvisor adapted to be"y located iii front oil the lens of said headlight to limit the height of the rays of light projected fori one piece of glass, beingV wardly by said' headlight, said visor having a surface adapted to reflect rays'ozf light downwardly and also being pro-vided with openings extending therethrough anda pair yof vanes projecting forwardly and outwardly from said visor', the ad-jaceiit inner edges of said vanos meeting in' a vertically disposed stra-ight line adjacent to said' lens'f said vaines having4 surfaces :ifdapted lo reflect rays of light passing' th'roii'gh, said openings laterally from said headlight.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in presence' of two subscribing' witnesses; A

` (illLRGlily F. TAFT.

Witnesses:

' FRANKLIN E. Low,v lima-inria M. JOYCE. 

